Inception, more than a dream.

I have just returned from seeing writer/director Christopher Nolan's latest triumph, Inception. I would like to say that I am speechless, but that is far from the case. To put it very blunt, Inception is the greatest movie I have ever seen. It is everything that a movie should be.

The film sits at a viewing time of 2 and 1/2 hours, but you would never know. In the later quarter of the film I had a feeling we were in the final stretch, and all I could think about was how I was no where near ready for it to end. Now, most films reviews include descriptions of the movie or at least an outline of the story, but honestly I don't want to say much of anything for the benefit of people who haven't seen it yet, and at the time this was written, that would be almost everyone.

All I'll say is what the commercials have already told you. Cobb, the lead roll incredibly portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, is an extractor. And as claims in the movie, he's the best extractor there is. Through a process of shared dreams, he and his team are able to penetrate the human mind and extract information, even one's most hidden secrets. But with in no more than 20 minutes of the movie, they have been presented with a slightly off the mark task, to insert a thought into someone's mind. Needless to say, this is a next to impossible process. I will not go into it anymore than this, because one of the most beautiful parts of this film is the way the story unfolds. Every piece of information I was handed was just as exciting as the end of the movie. I was captivated one moment to the next through the gripping story telling and incredible performances. The entire cast is through and through unbelievable, no one misses their mark. But Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a truly unique performance, rivaling that of even Leo himself. Levitt proved to us in Brick that he was capable of playing much more than the young alien Tommy Solomon, but I don't think anyone knew to this extent. This performance is most certainly the start of a booming career as a Hollywood level actor.

I have been "Following" (pun intended) Christopher Nolan's work since the start, and have never been disappointed. Along the ranks of the Coen Brothers and Martin Scorcese, he has been of my favorite directors since the very first time I watched Memento. Nolan stated some months back (and I fail to remember his exact words) but more or less claiming that this is by far his finest work. He could not have been more right. He delivers every ounce of talent you have come to expect from him. From the story telling of Following and Memento, to the character development of The Prestige, to the grand production of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Inception has it all. It makes you look back at every film you've ever seen and question that perhaps they weren't as good as they could've been. Nolan has unquestionably reset the bar of film making... and it has been set very, very high.